Last reviewed October 31, 2026.
The estimate you liked has turned into a contract, sent as a PDF with a line at the bottom for your signature. It runs a few pages, and most of it reads like boilerplate. New York law decides a good deal of what those pages must say, and a roof job carries extra rules that a kitchen remodel does not.
Two sections of state law
Article 36-A of the General Business Law covers home improvement contracts. Section 771, last revised October 29, 2021 according to the NY Senate’s copy of the statute, sets out what every such contract must contain. The Attorney General’s fact sheet says the law reaches most improvements costing more than $500.
Then comes Section 771-b, last revised May 29, 2020. It applies to contractors who do “roofing, gutter, downspout or siding services.” It requires a written contract with the owner before work starts, and it layers on payment and conduct rules for that trade alone.
Section 771 also says the writing has to be legible and in plain English. “Before any work is done, the owner shall be furnished a copy of the written agreement, signed by the contractor.” A contract you only saw on a tablet screen does not meet that.
The contractor’s details and county license number
Section 771 opens with “the name, address, telephone number and license number, if applicable, of the contractor.” On Long Island the license number applies. The Attorney General’s fact sheet lists Nassau and Suffolk among the places where home improvement contractors must be licensed, and Nassau’s consumer checklist names “the Nassau County Home Improvement license number” as something the contract should include.
Hold the contract next to the license. The names should match. Then run the number in the Nassau lookup or the Suffolk lookup. Our questions to ask a roofer cover the insurance papers to collect at the same time.
Start and completion dates in writing
The contract must give “the approximate dates, or estimated dates, when the work will begin and be substantially completed.” It also has to list any contingencies that would materially change those dates, and say “whether or not the contractor and the owner have determined a definite completion date to be of the essence.”
That last clause is worth a conversation. If the roof has to be done before a closing, a refinance appraisal or the first big storm, say so out loud and get it written in. For how many days a reroof usually takes once it starts, see how long a roof replacement takes.
Shingles named by make and model
Section 771 calls for a description of the work, the agreed price, and “the materials to be provided to the owner, including make, model number or any other identifying information.” A line reading “architectural shingles” falls short of that. Look for the manufacturer, the product line and the color, along with underlayment and other components.
The roofer law backs this up. Under 771-b, a roofing contractor may not “deviate from or disregard plans or specifications in any material respect without the consent of the owner,” and may not abandon the job without justification.
Nassau’s checklist adds items worth writing in even where the statute is silent, among them guarantees for labor and materials that say who backs them and for how long, a “broom clean” clause for debris and a lien release. Our roof warranty guide covers what the warranty paperwork should say.
No deposit to start a roof
For most home improvement work, Nassau’s checklist calls a down payment under 15% fair. Roofing is different. Section 771-b says “a roofing contractor shall not require an owner to provide a deposit for the work and materials,” and that the contractor “shall not mandate that a particular form of payment be made” before starting. The roofer can invoice for materials upon delivery, if their cost was disclosed in writing ahead of time, and invoice the rest after completion.
Section 771 still requires a dollar schedule if the contract uses progress payments, and a notice about how money paid before completion is protected. The escrow and bond rules behind that notice are laid out on our roof financing page.
The cancellation notice
Section 771 requires the contract to include a notice that you may cancel “until midnight of the third business day” after signing. Cancellation takes effect when you give the contractor written notice, and a notice sent by mail “shall be deemed given when deposited in a mailbox.” Keep a copy, and snap a dated photo of the envelope.
The one exception covers a bona fide emergency that you started. You can waive the right only with a separate statement in your own handwriting, dated and signed. Our emergency roof repair page covers when that comes up. Section 771-b adds a second cancellation window tied to an insurer’s coverage decision, explained on our roof insurance claims guide.
The lien notice and the insurance lines
Two more items tend to hide in the small print. Section 771 requires a conspicuous notice that a contractor, subcontractor or supplier who goes unpaid “may have a valid legal claim against your property known as a mechanic’s lien.” Since April 23, 2022, the writing must also disclose, before work begins, any property or casualty insurance covering the work, with the insurer’s phone number and address.
Section 771-b separately has the roofer name its insurer, the type of coverage and the limits in the contract. If any of these are missing, ask for a corrected copy before you sign.
